UNITED WAY STICKS WITH BOY SCOUTS

The Cape Girardeau Area United Way will continue to fund local Boy Scouts of America, officials said, despite other chapters' decisions to pull support after a controversial Supreme Court decision in June.

Nancy Jernigan, executive director of the local United Way, said inquiries from donors and others prompted her to make a formal announcement of the chapter's stance.

"It was never a question for us," Jernigan said.

"People were assuming that because they heard the United Way was not going to fund the Boy Scouts, that we weren't either. We wanted to dispel that nasty rumor before it even got started."

Some United Way chapters, each independent, reviewed their anti-discrimination policies and pulled funding from the Boy Scouts after the Supreme Court upheld the organization's right to ban gay Scout members and leaders.

The Supreme Court supported the Boy Scouts, saying it is a private organization, not a public entity.

The United Way, which is an umbrella organization that collects funds for numerous groups and causes, is a long-time supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.

"Our support of the Boy Scouts was never in question," Jernigan said. "We want our local contributors to be assured that our relationship with the Boy Scouts in our community is unchanged, as supportive as ever."

Last year, the local United Way gave $40,000 to the Greater St. Louis Area Council for Boy Scouts.

Joe Mueller, director of public relations for the Greater St. Louis Area Council, said the Supreme Court decision and the United Way funding has not been too controversial in the Cape Girardeau area.

"We have had no one from Southeast Missouri resign their leadership position," Mueller said. "In fact, in the entire council of over 20,000 volunteers, we have had one merit badge counselor resign."

Mueller said the Boy Scouts is pleased with the decision of the Cape Girardeau United Way.

"We have gone so far as to ask here in St. Louis that leaders' parents do not designate their gift to go to the Boy Scouts. We ask them to give their gift to the overall campaign," he said.

"I believe that's proof of our support of the overall mission of the United Ways."